Italian Way?

Let's workshop this poem about the affectionate behavior of Italians and the discomfort it can cause for someone from a more reserved culture like the United States

Italian Way?

Everyone says, “It’s not
that they’re fags. Italians 
just tend to get real close,
in your face when speaking.”
But there must be some link.

Each time I’m over there 
friends I make snuggle up, 
nudging to ass-dick me.
I shrink and they whisper:
“USA. We friends, no?”

Their moms seem in on it:
I’m not to sleep the floor.
One breakfast, my eyes red, 
one mom, all chipper, asked:
“Young men have much good night?”  

I failed to attend close
enough to see for sure, 
but asking this she seemed 
to shoot me a small wink—
dad’s head in the paper.

*This poem appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Los Angeles (2021)

Photo Credit: Me